Sighing Deeply

The Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.
Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” They said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.” And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.” Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.” Mark 8:11-26


Sighing Deeply

There are days when the sun shines so
memories stream in like dust on beams
childhood and delights are intermingled
with the greatest of pain and loss.

There is a place where sorrow creeps
when the heart is so disappointed
the failure of other humans so bitter
that darkness can cover even daylight.

There are times when we give up or in
we let reaction become our way of being
we forget that we are precious and beloved
miracle offspring of a loving Creator.

We all know when darkness hovers
when fear can be tasted in every bite
we are made for more than panic flight
made for love's abundant embrace.

There will always be Pharisees
always people who will need sign and proof
and we are those who are dancing already
hearing the wondrous music of God's creation.